Avionics technicians are an important link in the aviation and aeronautic industries because they perform the technical maintenance and government-required inspections that help ensure safe flights. Becoming an avionics technician may be the perfect career for someone who is interested in aircraft or flight and wants to make a good living; according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of aviation technicians is $52,320, as of 2010. Before starting your career in avionics, you must become certified and understand the type of work that aviation technicians do.

Work Duties and Environment

Avionics technicians are guaranteed to perform their duties in loud, strenuous environments, and the work is physically demanding. They must be available around the clock, and aviation technicians essentially work any time of day that flights occur, performing maintenance and inspections to ensure aircraft are safe. Common workplace settings for avionics technicians include military aircraft bases, commercial and private hangars, airfields and airports. Even medical institutions, most commonly hospitals, employ aviation technicians to keep emergency airlift helicopters running safely and smoothly. All avionics technicians, whether they complete a training program, two-year degree, university or graduate program, must be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, and obtain an Airframe and Powerplant Certification, or A&P License.

FAA Requirements

To obtain an A&P license, prospective avionics technicians must complete training, be at least 18 years old, be fluent in English, and pass written, oral and practical examinations. The training program must include 18 months of practical experience working with airframes or power plants, or 30 months of practical experience working on both airframes and power plants at the same time. If you lack this experience, you can take a training course or earn a degree from an FAA approved school.

Career Training

Avionics career training provides the shortest route to working as an avionics technician and can take as few as 15 months to complete. The goal of avionics training programs is to provide students with the knowledge they need to pass the A&P exams and obtain entry-level employment as an aviation technician. Course material typically covers reading and interpreting aircraft drawings, line installations and maintenance, flight simulation, electronic instrument and navigation systems and air traffic control transponders. Those who want to enter the workforce quickly, but who also may consider earning a university degree later down the line, should enter a two-year avionics degree program. Such programs award an associate of science degree to students, which not only prepares them to successfully pass the A&P exam but gain the foundation needed to enter a four-year college.

Avionics Degrees

Undergraduate and graduate degrees in avionics technology typically focus on management and prepare students to enter supervisory roles in aviation technology, while still gaining the practical knowledge needed to take the A&P certification tests. A higher-level avionics degree typically translates to greater career mobility and pay. There are fewer universities that offer degree programs than there are schools which offer career training, so it may be necessary for you to attend school out of state. As of publication, the University of North Dakota offers a bachelor of science degree program in aviation systems management, and Purdue University offers bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in avionics.